When Nyle Mameesh first walked into 2975 Lake St. in late 2011, the home in the Sea Cliff neighborhood was blighted and unkempt.

The pink exterior concealed a pest infestation and rubbish cluttered every room.

It also had a poor reputation in the neighborhood.

"It was like Boo Radley's house," Mameesh said, referring to the reclusive character in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird." "No one wanted their kids coming by it."

But location matters most in real estate, and Mameesh, a broker who invests in homes around the Bay Area, knew he could capitalize on the lot's position on a hill overlooking San Francisco, despite the structure being in disrepair.

Now the home features Calacatta marble in the kitchen and bathrooms, a state-of-the-art intercom and security system, 10-foot ceilings, two living rooms, a first-class wine cellar and roof deck offering extended views of San Francisco.

"I can't think of a home that turned out better," he said. "There have been homes where I've thought about what I could've done differently, but I can't think of anything with this one."

The potential to add living space and the design of the windows instantly attracted him, he said. Changing the look of windows in a historically significant building can be daunting, but fortunately the home already had wide windows. He could then add more without changing the historical appearance of the home.

"The original builders just didn't capitalize on the views," he said.

By adding windows on the lower and upper levels, Mameesh created vistas that had previously not existed in the house.

"We also added about 2,000 square feet of living space by removing interior walls and opening things up," he said.

The renovation was a logistical challenge. Since the home and surrounding structures were built on sand, workers needed to elevate it and take care not to let any ground give way during the remodel.

"Not only did they need to make sure this house didn't slip, they had to make sure the homes on either side didn't slide as they redid the foundation," Mameesh said.

Inside, 7-inch walnut planks line the floor of the tri level home, which was constructed in the 1930s.

The kitchen's center island is formed from a marble slab resting on rich walnut wood.

"The marble is all one piece," Mameesh said. "It took eight people to carry it in here."

A Control 4 home automation system operates the lights, security system and heater. The intercom features a video feed and can enable someone to see who is standing outside their front door.

Bells and whistles aside, having four bedrooms on the same level is a unique design feature, especially when each of those bedrooms has its own bathroom, said Gloria Smith of Sotheby's International Realty.

Another attraction, Smith said, is the 1,520-bottle climate-controlled wine cellar with cork floor and racks constructed from unfinished redwood.

Even the hallways were given special attention during the remodel. The gallery on the lower level is 5 feet wide and has lighting and sconces designed with displaying art in mind.

"This was designed to be a place for showing art," he said. "And the wide hallway gives it an open feeling."

With an unobstructed view of the Golden Gate Bridge and enough room for a pool table and big-screen television, the recreation room on the middle level is one of the highlights of the home.

The meticulous restoration continues outside, where Mameesh marvels at the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Heights and downtown San Francisco in the distance while standing on the roof deck guarded by glass railings.

"Look at what you can see from here. The roofs of the houses below look like a painting because of the reds and grays; and at night, beautiful."

Though the roof itself is softly pitched, the ipe wood deck is kept level by spacers placed underneath, which also assist with drainage.

Below, the garage door is plated with copper and will change color over time.

"It's a little loud right now, but when the patina forms, the colors will blend with the plants surrounding the garage," he said.